Martyrs Euagrius

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS EUAGRIUS, BENIGNUS, CHIRISTUS, ARESTUS, SINNIDIA, RUFUS, PATRICIUS, ZOSIMUS, AT TOMI IN SCYTHIA.

Euagrius, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Benignus, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Chiristus, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Arestus, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Sinnidia, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Rufus, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Patricius, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint) Zosimus, Martyr, at Tomi in Scythia (Saint)

Usuard begins this day with the first two Martyrs in these words: "In Scythia, in the city of Tomi, the birth into heaven of Saints Euagrius and Benignus." The same things are said by Ado, Notker, the printed Bede, Bellinus, and very many manuscripts, with which the present-day Roman Martyrology agrees. But with the name of the region omitted, in the Reichenau and Rheinau manuscript Martyrologies, these words are read: Euagrius and Benignus reported by many, "At Thomi, of Euagrius and Benignus." Which in the Hieronymian Martyrology printed at Paris are given thus at the end: "In the city of Eumi, of Euagrius, Benignus"; and with a new error they are expressed thus in the Epternach codex: "At Theumis of Euagrius, in the city of Tomi of Benigna." The same Euagrius and Benignus are reported at the end in the Lucensian and Blumian codices of the same Jerome, and are said to have suffered "in the city of Heumisiter"; for which Florentinius thinks ought to be read "In the city of Tomi likewise." In the MS codex of Queen Christina of Sweden, praised by Holstenius in the Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology, these things are found: "In Scythia, the birth into heaven of Saints Thomas, Euagrius, Benignus with five others." Some of these companions are expressed thus in the Barberini MS: "In Cilicia, the birth into heaven of Saints Thomas, others add companions. Euagrius, Blessed Benigna, Rufus, Patricius." More companions are indicated in the cited Epternach MS in these words, placed at the beginning: "III Nones of April. In Sicily, the birth into heaven of Euagrius, Benignus, Chrestus, Euagaristus, Arestus, Sinnidia, Rufus, Patricius." Which in the Corbie MS printed at Paris are expressed thus: "III Nones of April, in Sicily, the birth into heaven of Saints Thomas, Euagrius, Benigna, Christus, Aristus, Sinnidia, Rufus, Patricius, Zosimus." In Florentinius from the Lucca MSS, these things are printed thus: "In Nicea (or Meea), the birth into heaven of Saints Thomas, Euagrius, Benignus, Chiristus, Arestus, Sinnidia, Rufus, Patricius." The same are found in the very ancient Blume codex; but they are said to have suffered in Sicia, which word better agrees with Scythia, and from which the words Nicea, Meea seem to have been formed by a greater error, and the syllables Sicilia and Cilicia added. Consequently, it should be read with Usuard, Ado, Notker, and others: Whether Thomas is to be joined "In Scythia in the city of Tomi, the birth of Saints Euagrius, Benignus," etc.; and with the words badly transposed, it is judged that "of Thomas" has crept in in place of "Tomi"; and thus the occasion of a new error was given, since in the Augsburg MS of Saint Udalric one reads "In India of Thomas," who is called an Apostle in the Parisian MS of Labbé, and is assigned to Nicaea. This therefore being omitted or deferred to the 21st of December, we retain the following: Euagrius, sometimes called Euacer; Benignus, elsewhere Benigna; Chiristus, by others Chrestus and Christus; Arestus, in the Parisian edition Aristus; then Rufus and Patricius, which two are expressed thus in the Maximinian MS: "In Scythia, in the city of Tomi, the birth into heaven of Saints Euagrius and Benignus, and Rufus and Patricius." In the Ado MS of the monastery of Saint Laurence at Liège, when in the first part they are reported with others, and other Saints are interposed, at the end it is added: "Likewise at Tomi, of Rufus and Patricius"; which is also found in the MS Florarium of Saints. Lastly, Zosimus is added from the Corbie MS, who is exhibited by the Epternach codex. Euagaristius, and Euagaristius. Florentinius judges to have been conflated from Euagrius and Arestus or Aristus, by a scarcely doubtful fault of the copyist. By a similar mistake we judge that in the Hieronymian transcripts, Euagrius and Benignus are reported again at the end. Those two Peter de Natalibus exhibits thus, book 11, number 108: "Eugarius and Benignus, Martyrs, receive their crowns in Scythia, in the city of Thomi, on the III Nones of April." Where for "in the city of Thomi," Florentinius reads Relics of Saint Benignus at Bologna, "of Thomas." A memory of Saint Benignus Martyr is in Masini's Bononia illustrata, because the Relics of some Saint Benignus Martyr, whether of one or of several of the same name, are in the church of Saint Lucia of the Society of Jesus, and of Saint Dominic, and of Saint Gabriel called "della Ravegnana." Of the city of Tomi in Scythia we have often treated, chiefly on January 25 in the Life of Saint Britannion, Bishop.